(LEAD) Lee stresses importance of U.S. alliance, says differences can arise between countries

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(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks in paras 4-7)

SEOUL, Oct. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday stressed the importance of the country's alliance with the United States, while highlighting that differences can arise between countries.

The president made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting, where he also insisted that diplomacy should be focused on safeguarding national interests and that a submissive stance should be shunned in pursuing diplomacy.

His remarks come as South Korea continues to face restrictions on intelligence sharing by Washington, reportedly over the South Korean unification minister's previous remarks identifying North Korea's Kusong as a site housing a uranium enrichment facility. Washington has protested the remarks as a unilateral disclosure of intelligence shared by the U.S.

President Lee Jae Myung (C) attends a Cabinet meeting in Seoul on Oct. 13, 2026. (Yonhap)

"Diplomacy should be pursued in a way that always upholds South Korea's dignity and safeguards its national interests (while) any submissive or kowtowing stance should be shunned," the president noted.

"The guiding principle of South Korea's diplomacy is pragmatism. The most important thing for South Korea is its national interests," Lee stressed.

The president also said the South Korea-U.S. alliance is "very important" and constitutes the main axis of its diplomacy, which needs to be further advanced, acknowledging that differences could always arise between countries.

"(Differences) should be continuously debated, raised and coordinated," the president also noted, underscoring the importance of minimizing such differences to "a manageable level."

Unification minister says S. Korea-U.S. alliance intact despite conflicting interests

U.S. expects S. Korea to 'uphold' alliance standards amid intelligence cooperation concerns: senior official

(LEAD) Spy agency snub raises U.S. alliance concerns in S. Korea

(2nd LD) S. Korean envoy says progress made in intelligence cooperation with U.S. amid friction concerns

(LEAD) Lee stresses importance of U.S. alliance, says differences can arise between countries

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（注意：第 4-7 段已更新并附有说明）

首尔，10月13日（韩联社）——韩国总统李在明周二强调了韩国与美国联盟的重要性，同时指出国家之间可能会出现分歧。

总统在内阁会议上发表了上述讲话，他还强调外交应以维护国家利益为重点，在外交活动中应避免采取顺从的姿态。

据报道，韩国统一部长官此前曾公开表示朝鲜龟城是铀浓缩设施所在地，此举导致韩国持续面临来自华盛顿的情报共享限制。华盛顿方面对此表示抗议，认为这是单方面泄露美国共享的情报。

2026年10月13日，韩国总统李在明（中）在首尔出席内阁会议。（韩联社）

总统指出：“外交应该始终以维护韩国尊严和保障其国家利益为出发点，任何卑躬屈膝或谄媚的姿态都应该避免。”

李强调：“韩国外交的指导原则是务实主义。对韩国而言，最重要的是国家利益。”

总统还表示，韩美同盟“非常重要”，是韩国外交的主要轴线，需要进一步推进，同时也承认两国之间总是可能出现分歧。

总统还指出，“（分歧）应该不断地进行辩论、提出和协调”，并强调要将此类分歧最小化到“可控的水平”。

统一部长官表示，尽管利益冲突，韩美同盟依然稳固。

美国高级官员表示，尽管存在情报合作方面的担忧，但美国仍希望韩国“维护”同盟标准。

（导语）韩国间谍机构遭冷落引发美国对韩美同盟关系的担忧

（第二条）韩国特使表示，尽管存在摩擦担忧，但与美国的情报合作仍取得进展。

（导语）李强调美盟的重要性，并表示两国之间可能会出现分歧。